HMS Pegasus by flyer - FINISHED - Victory Models

[flyer]

Finally the buntlines were attached according Lees and belayed on the quarterdeck rail. This is all the rigging which will be installed on the main yard for now.

 

 

Buntlines installed

 

 

Belaying the buntlines. Note the 2 blocks stropped together end on end for the buntlines.

[flyer]

Next was the main topsail. Its length was reduced by 40%. While making it, I noticed that the largest sail on a mast is in fact the topsail. The size of the yards was rechecked but the topsail yard is lighter than the main yard. But such a large sail should at least have two buntlines if the mainsail has four. They will be installed according Lees. Additional blocks were put in place on the yard and the masthead.

 

The sail maker is putting the last stitches to the main topsail.

 

 

The sail (reduced by the lower 40%) provisionally on the mast.

[Mirabell61]

Hallo Niels

 

Of course I am glad if I will be able to help you. Ask away!

 

Regards

Peter

 

Peter,

 

she is coming on very nicely, and I`m watching with great interest....

 

Nils

[Landlubber Mike]

Peter, it's been a while since I've visited your log (MSW isn't sending my updates to build logs that I subscribed to  ), but you've made really nice progress.  Your sail work is outstanding, and I'm taking notes for my next builds (which ultimately will include the Pegasus).  

 

Nice to see a Pegasus build in sails - I've always thought that she would look gorgeous all dressed up!

 

Looking forward to your future updates.  You're on the home stretch

[flyer]

Hi Nils and Mike

 

Thank you.

It’s actually fun to try to find out about the function of all those lines in the rigging (quite often I feel like Steven Maturin ) and to install them correctly. There are some differences between the kits plans and Lees book. Sometimes I go with the book and other times (especially if it’s simpler but still looks reasonable) with the plan. My Pegasus seems to have a unique bosun: sometimes he is very conservative and using old fashioned solutions and suddenly his work borders on science fiction. But over all I enjoy the setting up of the running rigging more than is right.

 

Cheers

Peter

[Martin W]

Nice work, Peter, really nice.  And you're right about rigging -- it has a kind of hypnotic quality from the intricate problems that it continually poses.  But if you're going to start channeling Maturin, I do hope you'll stay off the laudanum. 

 

Cheers,

 

Martin

[flyer]

Hi Martin

 

You see, you need just a little splicing and knotting to fall into a kind of trance. So, who needs laudanum?

However, in order to compromise, I take occasionally the brandy part of it just leaving away the opium.

(OK, those two are drinking beer, but I didn’t find a nobler smiley.)

 

By the way, I was intrigued by your use of ‘channelling’. Trying to improve my English I looked it up in the net. As I mostly found technical translations originating from channel I assume you use it as a technical slang.??

 

Cheers

Peter

[Martin W]

Slang it is, Peter.  I think it comes from the weird world of seances, where a medium either takes laudanum (though brandy might do) or puts herself in a trance state by splicing and knotting, then "channels" spirits from other space-time continua.  My German isn't good enough to come up with anything terrbily close, but tragen could carry or channel the meaning in a way.

 

Cheers,

 

Martin

[flyer]

The finished sail was provided with the necessary lines and furled to the yard. The buntline blocks were installed as descript in Lees. After putting up the yard with parrel ropes, ties and lifts the cluelines and sheets were installed.

 

For the lifts I choose (together with my bosun) a rather unconventional instalment. During the period of Pegasus’ build and live usually the topgallant sheets were used also as topsail lifts. In earlier or later times the lifts ran from the masthead; the same arrangement that is shown in the kits plans. The yard by yard build up seems easier for me, if I use separate lifts and sheets. Therefore, upon a suggestion of my bosun, I decided on a clove hitched span around the cap and seized the topsail lifts to it.

 

Another problem is the belaying of all those lines. The space is rather cramped and I try to find reasonable belaying points using the plans and Lees while not overcrowding the bitts and rails.

 

In the meantime the sail maker has started to work on the main topgallant sail.

 

 

Parrel ropes attached

 

Yard held with ties...

 

...and lifts. You see the span around the cap with the lifts sized to it.

 

Lifts

 

In the beginning there is still some space to belay the lines on the quarterdeck rail

 

Buntlines are in place

 

Captain Jack asks for more order around the bitts...

 

...and the bosun tries to live up to this rather untimely request.

[Mirabell61]

rigging and sails look great Peter

 

also shrouds and ratlines well set..

 

Nils

[Martin W]

That's a busy crew, and Cap'n Jack drives them hard!  But the work is paying off as the rigging all looks neat and tidy.  I especially like the look of the parrels -- my crew has a history of not getting those taut enough.

 

Well done,

 

Martin

[Blue Ensign]

Great photo's Peter, she is looking excellent, with the sails in place and the crew busy about their business you have imparted a real sense of life and movement in your build.

 

Re the topsail lift / t'gallant sheet arrangement that is the method indicated in the ffm Vol 1V,and the one I will follow if I ever get around to rigging Pegasus.

 

B.E.

[flyer]

Thanks very much for all those likes.

 

@Nils

I’m looking forward to the rigging of your Pegasus. You see, setting it up and working on the details, can be as much fun as you have with the making of the interior details of your outstanding build.

 

@Martin

Thank you. Perhaps you should stop the grog for your crew if setting up of some rigging is planed?

 

@B.E.

Thank you very much.

Yes, I had a long talk with my bosun about those lift/sheets. Well, he is actually quite old. When he started his naval career some 40 years ago, in the 1730ies, topsail lifts were set up separately (as they will again in about 14 years from now – but we don’t know this yet). To honor his long service I decided to allow us that little anachronism. Of course, this means 2 more lines to pull during maneuvers but fortunately I have a full crew of right seamen – and besides that I like the look of it.

 

Cheers

Peter

[Landlubber Mike]

Excellent work Peter - your sails are coming out very nicely.  Well done!

[aliluke]

Hi Peter

Just realised I've never commented on your log although I browse it frequently. You have done a great job in every respect and the sails look fantastic - as B.E says, it brings it to life. It tempts me but I fear sails are step too far for my skills.

[dafi]

Lovely work!
 

Cheers, Daniel

[flyer]

Hi Mike

 

Thank you. You still haven’t changed your tag yet!?

 

Cheers

Peter

[flyer]

Hi Alistair

 

Thank you for the compliments.

It is my opinion that a sailing ship should have some sails. Without them a crucial part is missing. Furled sails still let you see the whole delicate web of all the rigging while the ship seems more complete and the rigging has a meaning. Contemporary models seldom have sails but I think perhaps the sails and how to work them was either too self-evident (and similar on all kind of sailing vessels)or absolutely irrelevant  to take the pain to show them to those who mainly used those models: Professionals or investors(kings).

 

Aren’t you perhaps a tiny little bit overmodest with your remark about skills and sails? I visited your log! Painting the seams and gluing the hem is easily done and to dye the cloth you can even use some tea without passing it through you first.

 

Cheers

Peter

[flyer]

Thank you; Daniel!

[Landlubber Mike]

Hi Mike

 

Thank you. You still haven’t changed your tag yet!?

 

Cheers

Peter

Not yet, still have a long way to go  I blame all the skilled modelers like yourself for making me feel very much the novice

[Martin W]

Hi Peter -- Your comments about the sails completing the ship and giving the rigging meaning has struck a chord.  My guess is that most of us have only ever thought that the sails would have to be unfurled, and would then obscure the view of all the details.  But with them furled, as you're doing, another intriguing element is added.  I'm going to have to keep this in mind  . . . though it will be about 4 years before I get to that point.

 

Cheers,

 

Martin

[riverboat]

Peter your build is looking fantastic!!!..... love your sails , rigging,and of course....  your motley crew!!

Frank

[flyer]

@Mike

:blush:

I always liked that Unicorn. (Corels Dolphyn was my first build). I’m happy to watch the development of a fine model.

 

@Martin

Years are going by ever faster lately, I find. You’ll be there very soon.

 

@Frank

It’s nice to hear from you. But I must protest: my crew is very crisp and proper – oh, you mean this ironical.

 

Take care

Peter

[Martin W]

So it's not just my imagination that the years have sped up? 

[flyer]

Well, Martin, this is a rather philosophical question. If everybody’s imagination is running in the same direction, doesn’t that make it real?  

Be it as it may, I once saw a T-shirt. On the front was printed:  I’M OVER 40

 

And on the back you could read:                                              Over the top

                                        Going downhill

                                       Picking up speed

 

It looks like that: the older you are, the faster you are. See it positively! When passing eighty you will be able to finish one ratline in 1/10 second or could start your formula one career and show all the Alonsos, Hamiltons and Rosbergs your taillights.

 

Be good

Peter

[flyer]

While the sail maker was busily stitching that topgallant sail the carpenter’s crew made some gun port lids 2.0. In the version 1.0 the inner layer was missing. This part fits into the frame in the gun port and brings the strength of the lid up to that of the ships side.

 

The size of the topgallant sail was reduced by 30%, the sail bent to its yard and the unfurled sail provisionally placed on the mast.

 

First 3 gunport lids 2.0

 

 

The eyebolts for the lid’s tackle are some leftovers from Granado

 

Main topgallant sail not furled yet

 

 

 

[riverboat]

Look'n nice Peter

 

Frank

[Timmo]

Peter, I can't believe I've never come across your fine build before. You make sails look easy and a thing of beauty. Top work.

[flyer]

Hi Frank

Thank you!

 

Hi Timmo

Thanks again. It is rather easy to make the sails the way I do. I will show the different steps during the making of one of the next sails. And in my opinion they really add to the beauty of the ship – they are the icing on the cake. Ok that’s another crooked comparison. Some (American) cakes just clobber you over the head with the icing while on the other hand the world’s best chocolate cake (yes, made by my wife) needs no icing at all.

 

Cheers

Peter

 

[flyer]

The sail, with the necessary lines attached, was now furled, the yard fixed to the mast as in the other examples and the different lines belayed.

 

While verifying the various belaying points with Lees help I found that contrary to the plans the cluelines should be belayed in the lower top. I decided to use shroud cleats for this. Those offered by Caldercraft seemed a bit large and therefore I made them from some leftover ply wood. To further harden them for their task I soaked them in CA glue before painting them black. They were then fixed with glue and some fine line on the inner side of the foremost shrouds.

 

As before lower sheets and the braces are left off. They will be installed only when all other work along the centreline of the deck has been finished.

 

 

Shroud cleat

 

 

Cleat fixed to the shroud

 

 

Cleat with clueline belayed

 

 

Topgallant yard in place

 

 

Bitts and rail are almost full

 

Edited May 26, 2014 by flyer